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DaxibotulinumtoxinA (“daxi”) is an investigational Botox®-like drug produced by the company Revance. Oregon Medical Research Center (OMRC) and our patient volunteers participated in a large national study funded by Revance where daxi was investigated for its ability to remove glabellar fold lines, the often-deep, perpendicular, skin wrinkles seen between the eyes. Over 3,000 patients were treated across the country, with over 60 participating here at OMRC. Remarkably, more than 95% of patients treated with daxi achieved a glabellar line score of zero or mild following a single injection of daxi. In addition, the effect lasted for an average of 7 months, much longer than what is normally seen with Botox®. The study also showed the drug to be safe. Because of the success of this trial, Revance has announced it will file daxi for approval with the FDA in 2019; the drug may then be available for widespread use in 2020.
https://investors.revance.com/news-releases/news-release-details/revances-rt002-demonstrates-unprecedented-efficacy-and-duration

Ilumya(TM) (tildrakizumab-asmn) is a new medication recently approved by the F.D.A. for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

We’ve partnered with patients for nearly 6 years on studies that have helped provide the data to show the outstanding results for patients on this treatment. We are happy to help bring another option to people who live with psoriasis.

We are excited to announce that one of the clinical studies that we and our patients participated in met its ultimate goal: approval by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Qbrexza cloths will be available as a prescription beginning in October 2018.

Qbrexza cloths are the first new treatment for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) since 2011 and are approved for use in adults and children ages 9 and above.

If you have psoriasis, it places you at a higher risk for having a heart attack when compared to someone who doesn’t have psoriasis. The old saying from a 1970’s TV commercial, “the heartbreak of psoriasis,” is true! If you have a little bit of psoriasis, then the risk is a little bit. If you have a medium amount of psoriasis, then the risk is medium, and if you have a lot of psoriasis, your risk for a heart attack is high. Why is this the case? The amount of inflamed skin due to psoriasis that we can see with our eyes is directly correlated with the amount of inflamed tissue that occurs on the inside of the body. More specifically, inflammation from the skin spills into the bloodstream and causes the inner linings of arteries to become inflamed. This, in turn, makes the arteries more likely to become blocked, which can then lead to things like heart attacks and strokes. Emerging new evidence suggests that treatments for psoriasis, like the biologics Stelara and Cosentyx, improve the skin and are then likely to decrease the risk of heart attacks. This makes psoriasis much more than a cosmetic skin disease, and more of a general health issue, for those who suffer from it. Get your psoriasis cleared up and improve your overall health.Publications

In a December 2016 issue of New England Journal of Medicine, and a May 2017 issue of Lancet, two of the world’s most prominent medical journals, OMRC’s Dr. Andrew Blauvelt and colleagues reported the results of phase 3 studies using dupilumab (also known as Dupixent) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema). Dupilumab was shown to be safe and highly effective for this disabling disease. Most patients had significant improvement in their itch and chronic skin disease. Eye dryness and redness was the most common side effect. Importantly, dupilumab was not associated with an increased risk of infections or cancers and did not cause any laboratory abnormalities. These studies led to the FDA approval of dupilumab/Dupixent in March of 2017. Dr. Blauvelt, a leading authority on this new drug, was a top enroller in these studies and has served as a key scientific advisor for Regeneron, the makers of dupilumab and the pharmaceutical company that sponsored these clinical studies. New dupilumab studies are now underway in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Biosimilars are biologic medications that are near identical, or similar, copies of original FDA-approved biologic medications. Some people view them as “generic biologics,” although technically they are not generic drugs, since generics are 100% identical to original medications. In this article published in the magazine Dermatology World, the current state of biosimilars is discussed, especially as it relates to biosimilars of Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade, well-known and popular originator biologics used to treat psoriasis. Dr. Andrew Blauvelt of OMRC has been involved in the testing of biosimilars for psoriasis, has been the leader of the Biosimilars Working Group of the International Psoriasis Council, has advised pharmaceutical companies on the development of biosimilars, and has spoken widely to general dermatology audiences on this area. He is frequently quoted throughout the attached biosimilar update, an article that would serve as a good introduction for those interested in learning more about this hot topic in dermatology.